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Conception

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Original poster

Egg Donation/IVF

20 replies

bluebear · 12/06/2006 19:35

Can anyone recommend any websites about egg donation?
Or has anyone had IVF and not mind letting me know a little bit about the regime up to and including egg retrieval?
Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
bluebear · 12/06/2006 21:07

bump

OP posts:
Rachee · 13/06/2006 09:36

BUMP

sorry no-one has replied, yet, i would like to know to....( attila the meercat might have an answer)

goingthroughit · 13/06/2006 09:56

Hi bluebear
I am just about to start the process of egg donation for my friend.
I found these websites useful
\link{http://www.donor-conception-network.org\donor conception}
and
\link{http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk\fertility friends}
Good luck!

goingthroughit · 13/06/2006 10:01

All I know so far about the process -
I will have an injection that halts my natural cycle (this could also be a nasal spray).
Then about 2 weeks later, after scans to check my ovaries, I will have daily injections to stimulate the ovaries. These will be for up to 2 weeks with regular scans to check progress, and then the eggs will be collected whilst I am under sedation.
I have been told that the collection can be painful and not very pleasant but that most people do not remember the actual prodecure because of the sedation.
I'm hopefully starting the process next week so will be able to let you know more as I go along if you like.
I'm sure someone who has been through it already will be able to give you a better account!

Feistybird · 13/06/2006 10:08

I had IVF and went on to have my DD. It's very like Goingthroughit says. I had a nasal spray for a while, then the injections, then egg retrieval (don't remember this being partic unpleasant). The biggest issue for me was the constant disruption - seemingly hospital visits, trying to time my injections whilst at work etc. I do remember tho that whilst having the injections, my stomach swelled so that people actually thought I was pregnant, which was a bit weird and uncomfortable. It went down again as soon as I stopped having the injections.

Feistybird · 13/06/2006 10:09

seemingly endless that should read

janinlondon · 13/06/2006 10:23

Don't read this if you are not absolutely serious about wanting to know the possible down sides! I would think very carefully about this before getting into it. I have been through four rounds of IVF. In that time I was hopsitalised three times. Once with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. You should be fully aware of this possible side effect and I would suggest reading all you can on it. Its no joke and can be fatal. I was in intensive care for three days. Second hospitalization because my egg retrieval was done (as is standard in NHS I think - though I could be wrong) under pethadine and we didn't know that it has no effect on me - hence I felt the whole thing, and unable to speak due to the effects of the drug, my only option when the needle went into my ovary was to kick out - knocking the consultant off his chair with his nose half way across his face, bending the retrieval needle to an almost 45 degree angle, sudden blood loss, three gynaecologists called on emergency bleep to try to remove the needle and staunch the blood, four hour procedure. Third hospitalization due to the consequences of the second problem - general anaesthetic and surgery to correct cyst at needle insertion point and to patch up the mess. Can I say NONE of this was in any way due to poor practice on the part of my excellent clinic. It was just a series of things that can, and do go wrong. I certainly wouldn't put myself in the situation for someone else. In fact we decided once we had our beautiful daughter that we wouldn't even do it again for ourselves. Sorry - you did ask!!!

goingthroughit · 13/06/2006 11:35

Shock jan OMG I'm speechless!

janinlondon · 13/06/2006 11:52

Goingthroughit - we don't actually think about it all that much any more actually - we only see the wonderful product! But I do think people tend to think its like getting on a bus!

katierocket · 13/06/2006 12:01

I've just had IVF. I did the short protocol which means it starts on day one of your normal cycle with injections to stimulate your ovaries then on around day 14 they did the egg retrieval and 2 days later the embryo transfer. It is a very stressful and emotional procedure and it takes a lot out of you but obviously worth if it if it works.

katierocket · 13/06/2006 12:02

as far as egg donation goes, your clinic will put you on a waiting list (I'm assuming you're looking for an egg donor not wanting to be one?)

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/06/2006 12:30

www.hfea.gov.uk is a good starting point for you.

Another book I would recommend you read is "The IVF Revolution" written by Prof Robert Winston (its about women's experiences of IVF).

Pruni · 13/06/2006 12:36

janinlondon Shock
I am having egg collection on Thursday!! But have been through it before so I know your experience was an extremely unlucky one.
This cycle has been rather hard, though I have responded well to the drugs, but have been wiped out physically and emotionally. Everyone reacts differently, and differently at different times.

katierocket, fingers crossed. Smile

Original poster
bluebear · 13/06/2006 20:56

Thanks for all your replies.
I have offered to be an egg donor for a friend who has no ovaries. I already knew that there was a risk of complications including hyperstimulation, and that there is no guarentee that there won't be any long term effects of the treatment. However, I was (mistakenly) told I was infertile at the age of 23 and spent 5 years coming to terms with it - then had my 2 miracle babies naturally ( was misdiagnosed) so I understand what she is going through.
Thanks for the details about the procedures, that has helped.

Goingthroughit - are you donating eggs directly to someone you know? - some of the things I've read say that you should donate to another family but this donation moves your friends higher up the list to receive eggs. TBH I'd rather my eggs go direct to our friends, we are physically very similar and, since the law is moving towards donor conceived children being given access to their genetic identity I thought it would be easier to be able to be honest from the beginning.

OP posts:
financiallyembarrassed · 13/06/2006 22:10

Bluebear, that is really moving. You must be a wonderful person to do that for your friend. Really hope it works out for you all. Take care Smile

katierocket · 14/06/2006 07:58

That's a very kind thing to do bluebear. Egg donation isn't something to be undertaken lightly but you clearly know that and you really would be giving someone such hope.

goingthroughit · 14/06/2006 13:21

Hi blubear
I'm donating to a friend who has gone through early menopause. It was both an impulsive decision and one that DP and I put lots of thought to (if that makes sense). I have eggs, she doesn't, I can spare a few, that was my basic reasoning anyway. My friend and her DH are such wonderful people who really deserve to be parents and it because of the massive waiting lists my little DD would be in secondary school before they would be anywhere near having a baby, and that broke my heart.
One option we were given was that I donate eggs to a 'pool' then my friend could take eggs from this pool, but that didn't feel right for us so I'm going to be what's called a known donor. IIRC children of donor eggs/sperm (born after a certain date I think) can now find out who their donor was. Some hospitals may have different policies that you might want to look into.
I'm not under any illusion that it will be an easy process, and I'm terrified that I won't respond to the ovary stimuation, or my eggs will be poor quality, that it won't fertilise, etc, etc, but we are all trying to be positive and take it one step at a time.
Goodness! This has turned into a massive ramble, sorry! It's kinda nice to 'speak' to someone about it, only my DP knows about it.
Anyway, good luck to you and your friend bluebear xxx

Original poster
bluebear · 14/06/2006 22:35

Thanks goingthroughit.
We are only at the discussing stage - although I did some research before I made the offer (but couldn't find any reallly clear info on what you actually have to do, hence original post)
Good luck to you and your friends.
Thanks also to FE and KR (I'm blushing a bit)

OP posts:
FrayedKnot · 14/06/2006 22:41

I can recommend the Fertility Friends website, I have been a member since not long after it started up and had some fantastic support when I was having treatment.

I still pop in now & again and you may find some other donors on there to chat to.

Good luck, I also think it's a great thing to be doing.

onlyjoking9329 · 14/06/2006 23:06

i donated eggs 8 years ago i chose to do it because we had struggled for years to have a child had an ectopic, was then told we would need IVF, 6 weeks later i was pregnant with twins, 2 years later had a miscarrige then had our DS, it made me realize how awful it would have been to not have been able to have babies and i wanted to give someone else the chance to be parents, the couple who had my eggs had a baby girl and i got three letters from them which are very special to me, i would have donated again but then my twins were DX with autism and a year later so was my son, you can be sued if you donate without disclosing a genetic condition if you knew about it previously which i didn't.
i don't remember too much about the process only that it was a lot of hospital vists, but only a bit of pain, not much pain in comparison to being unable to have a child thou.

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